The Miracles of Jesus: Meditations and Prayers for Lent

By Wessel Bentley

What do the miracles of Jesus have to do with our lives today?

Wessel Bentley describes Jesus' miracles as complex events. Not only did they transform people's lives through healing, multiplication, or resurrection, but they also challenged attitudes and beliefs. This is what makes Jesus' miracles timeless: they can still touch our lives today just as they did the lives of people 2,000 years ago.

Each daily reading in this Lenten book begins with a scripture reading, followed by the author's reflections on that passage. Rather than being a scholarly verse-by-verse dissection of the text, Bentley's meditations invite you to listen to what God may be saying to you through the Bible passage.

The daily meditations include thoughtful reflection questions, a prayer, and a prayer focus that lifts up persons or situations needing the touch of Jesus. To make each day's reading further relevant to your life, Bentley challenges you to remember at least one aspect of the meditation as you go through your day.

This unique Lenten study helps you identify with the characters in the Bible stories. You will see yourself and others as persons who need grace and have the potential to be transformed by Jesus' love

An excellent study for Lent, but this book can also be used anytime by individuals or groups wanting a deeper understanding of Jesus' miracles.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Upper Room Books
• Release date: Oct 1, 2012
• ISBN: 9780835811729

Wessel Bentley

Rev. Dr. Wessel Bentley is chief researcher at the Research Institute for Theology and Religion (University of South Africa). He is an ordained minister in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa. Bentley, his wife, and two sons live in Pretoria. Bentley is the author of *The Miracles of Jesus** and two books in the 28 Days of Prayer series: *Facing Financial Struggle** and *Praying Through a Child's Illness.**

Book preview

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THE MIRACLES OF JESUS

Meditations and Prayers for Lent

© 2012 by Wessel Bentley

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information, write: Upper Room Books, 1908 Grand Avenue, Nashville, TN 37212.

Upper Room®, Upper Room Books® and design logos are trademarks owned by The Upper Room®, a ministry of GBOD®, Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.

The Upper Room Web site: http://www.upperroom.org

Unless otherwise indicated, scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture designated AP are the author’s paraphrase.

At the time of publication all Web sites referenced in this book were valid. However, due to the fluid nature of the Internet some addresses may have changed or the content may no longer be relevant.

For more information on Arnold Friberg’s artwork, please visit www.fribergfineart.com

Cover design: Bruce Gore/Gorestudio.com

Cover photo: © Arnold Friberg, photograph courtesy of Friberg Fine Art, Inc.

ISBN 978-0-8358-1172-9 (ePub edition)

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Introduction

How to Use This Book

THE GOSPEL OF MARK

Getting to Know Jesus During Lent

DAY 1  Jesus, who confronts demons

DAY 2  Jesus, who goes home with you

DAY 3  Jesus, who makes clean

DAY 4  Reflect on the week

DAY 5  Jesus, who heals hurts and sins

DAY 6  Jesus, who reaches beyond taboos

DAY 7  Jesus, who is in control

DAY 8  Jesus, who restores identities

DAY 9  Jesus, who crosses boundaries

DAY 10  Reflect on the week

DAY 11  Jesus, who redeems by reputation

DAY 12  Jesus, who fulfills needs

DAY 13  Jesus, who calms the storms

DAY 14  Jesus, who saves the others

DAY 15  Jesus, who draws us aside

DAY 16  Reflect on the week

DAY 17  Jesus, who uses the ordinary

DAY 18  Jesus, who heals continuously

DAY 19  Jesus, who gives faith

DAY 20  Jesus, who hears the lowly

DAY 21  Jesus, who seeks fruit

DAY 22  Reflect on the week

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

Getting to Know Jesus in Our Faith

DAY 23  Jesus, who moves beyond religious form

DAY 24  Jesus, who knows better

DAY 25  Jesus, who challenges our explanations

DAY 26  Jesus, who shows tolerance

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

Getting to Know Jesus of the Marginalized

DAY 27  Jesus, who challenges our certainties

DAY 28  Reflect on the week

DAY 29  Jesus, who restores hope

DAY 30  Jesus, who works unlikely miracles

DAY 31  Jesus, who offers renewed perspective

DAY 32  Jesus, who notices and acts

DAY 33  Jesus, who works when we forget

DAY 34  Reflect on the week

DAY 35  Jesus, who heals our enemies

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

Getting to Know Jesus Who Brings Life

DAY 36  Jesus, who saves each moment

DAY 37  Jesus, who redeems when all seems lost

DAY 38  Jesus, who gets us to move

DAY 39  Jesus, who takes away the blame

DAY 40  Jesus, who rolls stones away

EASTER SUNDAY: Jesus, who is Lord

An Outline for Small-Group Use

Notes

About the Author

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Writing a book is a team effort. Through the years, the teams at Upper Room Ministries and Africa Upper Room Ministries have showed tremendous dedication and professionalism in my dealings with them. Thank you to each and every one! Special thanks must go to Rita Collett, who not only did a sterling job at improving the readability of the manuscript but challenged my thinking on countless occasions. Similarly, I must thank Roland Rink and Renny Stoltz for their ongoing support and motivation. Most of all, I extend appreciation to my family, who encourage me daily to be the best father and husband I can be.

dingbat.jpg

I dedicate this book to our son,

Nathan

who helps us appreciate life

from more angles than the obvious.

You are a gift!

INTRODUCTION

Lent is a preparatory time of forty days before Easter. Our journey starts on Ash Wednesday when we are reminded of our mortality and sin. Our cluttered lives often crowd out the reminders that Ash Wednesday brings. Activities, responsibilities, and even dreams or anxieties may shape the way we see ourselves and form the way we live out this miraculous gift of life.

On Ash Wednesday we cut to the core of our existence. We are not what we eat. We are not what we do. We are not what we fear. We are human beings, created in the image of God; but we have accumulated all kinds of complexities that make our core identity, at times, hard to find.

Easter brings new beginnings, so during Lent we undergo a process of letting go. We may find that letting go is not as easy as it seems. Letting go of things like addictions or luxuries makes us feel uncomfortable; it may take a miracle for us to experience relief.

During this Lenten time we will focus on Jesus’ miracles, complex events that not only touched people through healing, multiplication, or resurrection but challenged attitudes and beliefs. This complexity makes Jesus’ miracles timeless, for they can touch people’s lives today just as they did nearly two thousand years ago.

We will take this Lenten journey day by day, so I encourage you to spend time with the scripture readings, meditations, and with God. Allow God to speak and show you what you need to let go of. You may even decide